Lincoln Mine

This was Utah's first lead mine, and lead was worth more than gold to the settlers. Discovered in 1858, it was opened in 1859 at Brigham Young's direction, and the town of Minersville rose to work it — for the Latter-day Saints wanted lead, not the silver and gold that drew the wider West. They cast it into bullets and, for a decade, traded it like money for labor and goods. The mine took three names in turn: the Spanish Mine, then the Rollins, and at last the Lincoln. A smelter came in 1875.

What the plaque says

The Lincoln Mine No. 17 Erected March 20, 1937 First lead mine in Utah Five miles N.E. of here, discovered 1858, by Isaac Grundy, Jesse Smith, Tarlton Lewis and Wm. Barton. These men and Sidney Tanner, John Blackburn, Edwin Bingham, Samuel Lewis, and Jmes M. Rollins, established Minersville and opened the mine May 1859 by direction of Brighan Young. First called Spanish Mine, it was called Rollins Mine when Rollins became bishop in 1860, and Lincoln Mine in 1870. A smelter was built here in 1875. The lead was used for bullets and as a medium of exchange to for labor and merchandise from 1859 to 1870. Lincoln Camp. Beaver County.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Beaver — 16 mi
  A charming main street town with surprisingly good food
• Parowan Gap Petroglyphs — 25 mi
  An ancient rock art gallery hidden in a desert canyon

More markers nearby

• Milford Stamp Mill — 13 mi
• Lee's Ranch Indian Raid — 15 mi
• Pioneer First Camp Ground — 16 mi
• Beaver Stake Tabernacle — 16 mi